Paper Tiger Nationals expected to tighten on final day

Nelson's Dave Shaw currently holds a commanding lead in the 102 Paper Tiger Nationals being sailed at Maretai, to the east of Auckland.

With fresh breezes on both days, Shaw holds a 12 point lead over the second and third boats who are tied on 17pts.

But further down the fleet, former Laser Masters world champion, Mark Orams is poised to strike when discards are applied. Orams has scored two second places and a win, in his best three races out of the four sailed to date. Shaw has three straight wins and placed second in the first race of the regatta.

With discards applied, at this stage, Orams will lift to be just two points behind Shaw - effectively meaning that Orams will have to at least beat Shaw in both races sailed tomorrow.

Shaw in turn will look to score another win (which would be his fourth of the series) in the fifth race tomorrow, which would probably seal the championship.

Conditions for the final day are expected to be more of the same - a fresh easterly sea breeze - making for ideal sailing in the singlehanded 14ft catamaran, designed by Ron Given in the mid 1960's and still attracting a fleet of just under 50 boats for this National Championship.